The Bill Cosby new trial request landed in a California court on April 9, 2026. The 88-year-old disgraced comedian is fighting to overturn a $59.25 million verdict awarded to Donna Motsinger, who accused him of drugging and raping her in 1972. His legal team argues the jury gave her far too much money.
In March 2026, a Santa Monica jury found Cosby liable for sexual battery and assault against Motsinger, now 84. The award included $17.5 million for past mental suffering, $1.75 million for future suffering, and $40 million in punitive damages. The Donna Motsinger rape allegations stem from an incident when she worked as a waitress in Sausalito, California. She testified that Cosby gave her wine and what she thought was aspirin, then she woke up at home wearing only her underwear.
Cosby’s legal team filed documents citing multiple grievances. The judge allegedly blocked lawyers from cross-examining Motsinger about prior statements to police and from presenting evidence of her past drug use. His attorneys also claim the $40 million punitive award is grossly excessive, representing roughly a third of his net worth. The filing describes Cosby as “an 88-year-old man with no sight who lives an isolated life,” arguing the damages serve no deterrence purpose.
The same courthouse previously ordered Cosby to pay $500,000 to Judy Huth, who accused him of molesting her at the Playboy Mansion in 1975 when she was 16. Over 60 women have accused Cosby of sexual misconduct spanning four decades. He served nearly three years in prison after a 2018 criminal conviction, but Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court overturned it in 2021 on procedural grounds.
Cosby’s attorneys have signaled they will appeal if the new trial request is denied. For now, the $59.25 million judgment stands, one of the largest civil awards ever against a celebrity in a sexual assault case.
